Who is the best orthopaedic surgeon in the UK?

It is understandable that a patient would want to pick the best orthopaedic surgeon to operate on their hip or knee. However a more realistic view is to accept that there is no best orthopaedic surgeon in the United Kingdom whether that be London, Yorkshire, or further afield.

The truth is that most surgeons have become super specialised into just a few operations. I myself focus solely on arthritis of the hip and knee, and perform variations of two operations, total hip replacement and knee replacement. Super specialising allows a surgeon to increase the volume of their chosen operation and perfect their craft. Although there is no single best orthopaedic surgeon in the UK, there are many excellent surgeons covering particular conditions or operations.

As a surgeon myself, if I needed an operation I would not seek out the ‘best orthopaedic surgeon in the UK or the world’, but I would look for a set of qualities that would give me confidence that I would have a good experience.

Firstly I would look for a high level of training. In the UK the standard to become a consultant is very high. Many surgeons also complete additional post completion of training fellowships in their area of speciality. You can read about my training here.

Then I would look for a surgeon who performed a higher than average number of procedures, in general terms when someone does something a lot they get good at it.

I would also look for a track record of performance. For joint replacement surgeons such as myself this would include the National Joint Registry data on the surgeon, along with verified patient reviews or feedback.

I would look for a surgeon that is trained in modern techniques, with good evidence behind them, but not a surgeon performing experimental techniques. One of the techniques I use is robotic assisted surgery using the Stryker MAKO system, this has been used in joint replacements now for 20 years and has good evidence that it improves the accuracy of joint replacement surgery.

There are many qualities that a surgeon needs beyond the technical skills of the operation. Probably the most important is communication skills and decision making skills so that a patient gets the right operation at the right time. A surgeon that is passionate about their job and enjoys listening to a patients story and identifying how they can help are also good qualities.

If I were to put myself under the microscope and ask is Mr Samir Ali Salih the best orthopaedic surgeon in Leeds, Yorkshire, or even the UK? I would to conclude that I am very good at a small number of operations, with the knowledge I have colleagues better than me at other operations I no longer perform regularly. I would also conclude that I have the qualities I would personally seek out if I was in need of a hip and knee surgeon. I have some grey hairs to show for my years of experience but not the vanity to dye them. I drive a Japanese car and not an Italian supercar (although I have taken a Ferrari around a test track and it did put a smile on my face!). I love operating, and I love the smile on patients faces when I see them in clinic after 8 weeks. My focus is on reliable and reproducible results with a long term mindset. I may not be the best surgeon for every patient, but I believe I am a good match for patients who are higher function and want to be involved in the decision making in a shared way.

If you would like to book a face to face consultation with me in Yorkshire, or a video consultation from anywhere further afield please contact me below.